Flying in pilot's seat at just 13

Tyler Boyd at the controls of a Boeing 737 flight simulator with his flying instructor Tess.

WHILE holidaymakers were swimming and surfing and enjoying Evans Head over the Christmas and New Year break, Tyler Boyd, who has a dream to fly, used the holidays to achieve his goal by polishing his skills in a Boeing 737 flight simulator.

The 13-year-old, who has started his general aviation flying training at Evans Head, Ballina and Lismore, travelled to Sydney to jump into the captain's left-hand seat of an 800 Series Boeing 737 aircraft and is on his way to realising his dream to be a commercial pilot.

He teamed up with flying instructor Tess at Flight Experience and took over the controls "flying" from Sydney to Ballina, and then took on two of the most challenging airports in the world at Hong Kong and in the Caribbean.

"I had so much fun," Tyler said.

"It was great to be in command of a real passenger jet aircraft which is approved for training by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority."

Tyler, who recently enlisted with RAAF Air Cadets 326 Squadron in Lismore, said he was enjoying the new 2012 school term in Year 8 at Trinity College.

"I am going to have to study very hard if I am to become a pilot," he said.

"I really want to do well this year in science, maths and geography, but I would rather be in a plane than flying a desk in class."